119:162). A good translation of the Bible will be essential as you use this study. The New Living Translation. the author will primarily use the New Living Translation. or the King James Version are all very accurate translations and are highly recommended. the New King James Version. a pray paragraph is included at the beginning of each day’s homework. In this study. you’ll be encouraged to record any insights the Holy Spirit has shown you in a brief reﬂect section. Therefore. the New International Version. Second Edition. the New American Standard Bible. Homework for this study will require approximately 20 minutes per day. At the conclusion of your daily study. The Holy Spirit will be your Divine Tutor throughout this study (John 16:13). ﬁve days per week. Think of this workbook as a chisel and your Bible as a gold mine.About the study
This Bible study is a simple tool to help you discover life-changing truths from God’s Word. Each day you’ll “dig-in” to God’s Word to discover precious treasures that will enrich your life for His glory (Psalm 19:9–10. and prayer will be essential in facilitating your sensitivity to His leadership.
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But in her early twenties. Bill. one beloved daughter-in-law (Stephanie). Laurie enrolled in an in-depth women’s Bible study.About the author
Laurie Cole is the Founder and President of Priority Ministries. God tested and taught her the importance of truly giving Him priority in her life. and J. In 1985.
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. They have been married for 29 years and have three sons (David.J. and two glorious grandchildren (Ezra and Juliette).). Raised in a strong Christian home. Laurie has taught dozens of Bible studies. Her passion for God and hunger for His Word continues to grow. and is the author of two in-depth Bible studies: There Is A Season and The Temple. spoken at numerous women’s events and conferences. Laurie received training and began teaching and leading a group where God aﬃrmed His call upon her life to teach. Laurie and her husband. where he is the Associate Pastor of Worship and Praise. Laurie became a Christian at an early age. Texas. A minister’s wife. Encouraged by the older women who led the study. serve the Lord at Sagemont Church in Houston. a ministry dedicated to encouraging and equipping women to love God most and seek Him ﬁrst. Kevin. For over 20 years.

but you probably already know that. In today’s culture. What you may not know. I was even more wrong in my attitude toward the topic. Hebrews 4:12). If you’d told me a couple of years ago that I would be writing a Bible study about beauty. “No way. however. Therefore.Introduction to the study
I have a confession to make. but I’m writing it anyway. that is. It has the power to reprove and correct. is vastly diﬀerent from worldly beauty. and to pierce us to the very quick of our hearts (2 Timothy 3:16. I can testify to this power ﬁrsthand.
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. So what changed my condescending outlook. God’s Word seems (I said “seems. squinted my eyes and replied with absolute disdain. When contrasted with the prevailing philosophies and “enlightened” beliefs of our current culture. beauty is an idol worshipped and pursued by multitudes of women both young and old. OK. A Bible study about beauty? How shallow. I wrote that little warning with a smile on my face. is just how much you have been inﬂuenced by the world’s deﬁnition and beliefs about beauty. to judge and oﬀend. but I really do want to caution you about something: God’s Word is powerful. before you even begin this study. Therefore. and who convinced me of my wrong-headed point of view? God. I would have shaken my head. And now I know what He knew all along: beauty is no shallow subject. Study at your own risk. In fact. Biblical beauty.” Wrong! Not only was I wrong in thinking I would never write a study about beauty.” not “is”) old-fashioned and out-dated. God wants all of His daughters to be beautiful—biblically beautiful. I must warn you: This Bible study contains material that may be deemed oﬀensive by women (maybe even you). adopting God’s deﬁnition of beauty will require us to swim against some very strong cultural currents. One of the very ﬁrst reproofs I experienced as I was researching this study was about how much time and money I have spent worshipping the idol of worldly beauty. And believe me. Ouch! My research for this study also conﬁrmed the enormous chasm that exists between God’s standards and the popular standards of today’s world. however.

God’s Word is timeless. but the Word of our God stands forever. and the ﬂowers fade.
“The grass withers. and true. More liberating than the most recent reinvention of feminism. Study its standards. you will become a true beauty—a biblically beautiful woman of God. transformational. More relevant today than the latest issue of Vogue.” —Isaiah 40:8 NLT
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.Like the constantly changing hemlines of today’s fashions. my beloved sister. the world’s deﬁnition of beauty will continuously evolve. Your Sister. practice its principles and. But one thing will never change: God’s Word—The Book.

” And trust me. So. there is a sixth “woman” we’ll be getting to know in Proverbs. Her name is Wisdom. Girl. But before you meet them.” but others are biblical “beauty don’ts. we will be spending quite a bit of time with them as we learn how to become biblically beautiful women of God. We’ll get out often and visit women in other books of the Bible. because there is a seventh “woman” mentioned in the Proverbs. some of the ﬁve women you’re about to meet are biblical “beauty dos. you won’t have any trouble telling which ones are which. Don’t worry about coming down with a bad case of “cabin fever” from being stuck inside Proverbs for six weeks. c’mon. All throughout Proverbs. these six weeks are going ﬂy by!
•••••
day one
I almost forgot to tell you. too. P.
2
. Let me explain. Let’s head to Proverbs—our home for the next six weeks.S. Don’t you just love that! But let’s not get too carried away. I’ve even arranged for us to take a few topical tours through the Scriptures together. and her name is Folly. These ﬁve females all make their home in the Book of Proverbs. For the next six weeks.Week One • five beauty dos & don’ts
This week I will be introducing you to ﬁve women. You’ve probably seen those “beauty do” and “beauty don’t” photos in the fashion magazines haven’t you? Well. the author uses the female pronoun “she” to refer to wisdom. you need to know something: not all of these women qualify as true biblical beauties.

” —Proverbs 1:20–23
pray
2. 4 but in the end she is bitter as gall. Wisdom well. please answer the following questions about the Immoral Woman: a. it is essential that we get to know Ms. Ask Him to pour out His wisdom upon you and make you wise.. her paths are crooked. Good news! Wisdom is available to everyone who needs it. Based upon Proverbs 5:3–6.. Allow me to introduce you to the Immoral Woman as you read Proverbs 5:3–6:
3 For the lips of an adulteress [woman] drip honey. let him ask of God who gives to all men generously and without reproach and it will be given to him” (NASB). but she knows it not. and she’s a doozy. Begin your ﬁrst day of study by bowing your head and praising God as the source of true wisdom. the ﬁrst female mentioned in Proverbs. Brace yourself. James 1:5 promises that “if any of you lack wisdom. You’re about to meet Beauty #1. “Come here and listen to me! I’ll pour out the spirit of wisdom upon you and make you wise. And we all need it.Week One • Five Beauty Dos & Don’ts
This sixth “woman”—Wisdom—will be the focus of our daily pray time. 6 She gives no thought to the way of life. She cries out in the public square. What’s the very ﬁrst thing you learned about her (verse 3)?
3
. and her speech is smoother than oil. her steps lead straight to the grave. 5 Her feet go down to death. 1. If you want to become a biblically beautiful woman as I do.
Wisdom shouts in the streets. —Proverbs 5:3–6 NIV
3. sharp as a double-edged sword.

What kind of ﬁrst impression does she usually make?
d. what will others eventually discover about her. According to verse 4. Excluding the language used within the text.b. What is her ﬁnal destination and why (verses 5–6)?
4
. and when will they discover it?
e. what other words or phrases might describe her manner of speech and method of communication?
c.

Week One • Five Beauty Dos & Don’ts
You’ve just experienced your ﬁrst encounter with the Immoral Woman. She gets more press and attention than any of the other four women we’ll be studying. where would they be?
6. What kind of reputation does the Immoral Woman have in today’s culture?
5. why would God want us to get to know her so well?
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. And I think you’ll agree that she certainly gets the most press in today’s world. You probably have seen the Immoral Woman many times in many places. Why do you think ﬁve passages and one chapter of Proverbs are devoted to the Immoral Woman? In other words. Next week. which leads me to ask this: 4. but if you had to name the top three places you most consistently see her in our culture. but it won’t be your last. you’ll study her extensively. and you may be surprised to learn that ﬁve passages and one entire chapter of Proverbs are devoted to her.

right now. how could Proverbs 5:3-6 be particularly useful to you?
•••••
day two
pray
1. They probably don’t sound like the kind of women who can teach us much about biblical beauty. tune out the racket around you. What wisdom has He given you through your study today? And if you’re a mom. So. I know. and concentrate on understanding. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way. —Proverbs 2:2
Today you will meet two more women from Proverbs: the Indiscreet Woman and the Irritating Woman.reflect
7. you prayed and asked God for wisdom. and 24/7 access to the worldwide web—is no small feat. —2 Timothy 3:16–17
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. But by daily and deliberately making today’s Proverb a priority. fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do. and tune in to God and His wisdom through prayer. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. you can still hear God speak. A few minutes ago. busy blackberries. Tune your ears to wisdom. small voice over the constant cacophony of technology—ringing cell phones. Tuning into God has never been more diﬃcult than it is today. Hearing His still. but here’s a great passage to remind us why we can’t aﬀord to ignore them: All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.

what exactly is discretion. her lack of discretion is her ruin.com or Dictionary.research.Week One • Five Beauty Dos & Don’ts
2. So. the Indiscreet Woman. The Merriam-Webster dictionary at www. Thus.
a. meet Beauty #2 by reading the following scripture: A woman who is beautiful but lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout. one of the primary principles we can learn from her is that no amount of make-up. or even plastic surgery can cover up a deﬁcit of discretion.com are both excellent resources. spa treatments.m-w. and record their deﬁnitions in the space provided:
NOTE: Please feel free to search for these deﬁnitions online. indiscreet
d. and how can we get it? In a couple of weeks. may be rich in the looks department.Com at www. prudent (often used as a synonym for “discretion”)
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. Botox® injections. Look up the following words in any dictionaries (secular or biblical) you have. — Proverbs 11:22 Wow! That’s one blunt verse. but for now.dictionary. huh? While Beauty #2. ﬁnd out a few basics about it by completing the following assignments: 3. Keeping 2 Timothy 3:16–17 in mind. discreet
c. we’ll study discretion in detail. discretion
b.

and brieﬂy explain how or why they exemplify discretion and prudence. how can we obtain discretion?
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.4. Why did he write it (verses 2–5)?
c. Discretion is a “must have” for every biblically beautiful woman. Who wrote the Book of Proverbs?
b. According to this passage.
5. Name one or two discreet or prudent women you have known. Discover how to get it by reading Proverbs 1:1–5 and answering the following questions: a.

but that’s OK. let’s focus on the primary and possible long-term eﬀects of 3C. What potential long-term eﬀects could 3C cause in our relationships with others?
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. We won’t spend much time with her today. we’ve all been this woman. According to Proverbs 21:9 and 19: a. Meet Beauty #3 by reading the following scriptures: It is better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a contentious wife in a lovely home. with frequent bouts of (3) Complaining. you and I both know that crabbiness does not discriminate. too. But for now. 7.Week One • Five Beauty Dos & Don’ts
We need to move along now and meet Beauty #3. young or old. — Proverbs 21:19 We’ve all met this woman before haven’t we? But let’s be honest: at times. A little time with her goes a long way! 6. —Proverbs 21:9 It is better to live alone in the desert than with a crabby complaining wife. Christian or non-Christian) can exhibit the classic symptoms of what I call “3C Syndrome”: (1) Contentiousness. 3C is not generally contagious. and there is a cure (we’ll uncover it in the weeks ahead). the Irritating Woman. And while these verses may speciﬁcally apply to married women. male or female. Fortunately. How does 3C aﬀect our relationships with others?
b. Anyone (married or single. (2) Crabbiness.

Begin applying the following verses to your life as often and as liberally as needed: Don’t talk too much. —Proverbs 16:24 10. Do you agree that there is a lot we can learn from the two women we’ve met today? What insights has the Holy Spirit taught you today through the Indiscreet Woman and the Irritating Woman?
reflect
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. Be sensible and turn off the flow! —Proverbs 10:19 Kind words are like honey— Sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. a quick dose of wisdom and instruction from Proverbs should ease some of your symptoms until we can study the cure in the weeks ahead. Might you have a mild (or possibly serious) case of 3C? Take a quick check-up by circling the word that most accurately completes each of the following sentences: a. My friends and family would probably say that my words are usually: encouraging and kind sweet and sour negative and nagging
9. If your check-up revealed a possible case of 3C. My friends and family would probably say that I am usually: easygoing a little high-maintenance downright diﬃcult
d. for it fosters sin. My friends and family would probably say that I complain: rarely occasionally frequently
c. My friends and family would probably say that I am crabby: rarely occasionally frequently
b.8.

Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always be captivated by her love. the fear of the Lord is reverence for God that results in obedience to God. without further adieu. you get wisdom! Before you begin today’s study. She is a loving doe. —Proverbs 5:18–19
The ﬁrst seven chapters of Proverbs are speciﬁcally addressed from a father (Solomon. In the Proverbs 5 passage you just read. it is my privilege now to introduce you to Beauty #4. 3. and when you put them together. what are the characteristics of a Captivating Woman?
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. Knowledge of the Holy One results in understanding. I am very excited today to introduce you to Beauty #4. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. So what exactly is it? Very simply. submit yourself in reverence before God in prayer. Then watch for wisdom to show up. the Captivating Woman:
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pray
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Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. The fear of the Lord is a very positive and beneﬁcial thing. —Proverbs 9:10 2. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. a graceful deer. It is where true wisdom begins. This woman bears no resemblance to the three women you have previously met in Proverbs—thank goodness! So. and commit to obey Him.Week One • Five Beauty Dos & Don’ts
day three
1. It is both attitude (reverence) and action (obedience). the father is exhorting his son to seek love and sexual satisfaction within the bounds of a monogamous marriage to a captivating woman. According to Proverbs 5:18–19. the author of the Proverbs) to his son.

Just wait until we study Song of Solomon in Week 5! 5. word-for-word. in the space below. go ahead and read verses 21–25). Read it (in fact. God Himself is instructing and encouraging us to enjoy freely the pleasures of sexual intimacy within marriage. There is one ﬁnal verse I’d like for you to look up today: Genesis 2:25. The bonuses and beneﬁts to the husband of a Captivating Woman are pretty obvious. then write verse 25. and explain your answer.Therefore.
6. but is he the sole beneﬁciary in this marriage? In other words. How does Genesis 2:25 parallel Proverbs 5:18–19?
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.4. He is the ultimate Author of every passage and verse (2 Peter 1:21). when we read a sensual passage like Proverbs 5:18–19. are there also beneﬁts for the Captivating Woman and for the overall marital relationship? Ponder these questions. And Proverbs 5:18–19 is really quite tame compared to other biblical passages.
Every scripture in the Bible is inspired by God.

and commit to giving it priority on your “want list”. As a woman (or as a wife). she’s the most well-known woman in Proverbs. Choose (wisdom’s) instruction rather than silver. and knowledge over pure gold. Hands down. Are you ready to meet our ﬁnal beauty. how has God spoken to your heart through His Word today?
reflect
•••••
day four
1. For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Beauty #5? You’ve probably heard about her before. Prepare to be dazzled as you meet Beauty #5: the Ideal Woman. Thus far. you’ve met the ﬁrst four women from Proverbs.
pray
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. Nothing you desire can be compared with it. But do you know what should always be at the very top? Wisdom.Week One • Five Beauty Dos & Don’ts
7. Take today’s passage before the Lord in prayer. What’s at the top of your “want list”? You know what I mean— most of us have a list in our head of things we’d really like to have. —Proverbs 8:10–11 2.

Her husband can trust her. but you surpass them all!” Charm is deceptive. the phrase “total package” comes to my mind. she did arrive. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world. Reward her for all she has done. with her earnings she plants a vineyard. and beauty does not last.Proverbs 31:10–31
10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27
28 29 30
31
Who can ﬁnd a virtuous and capable wife? She is worth more than precious rubies. her ﬁngers twisting ﬁber. She has no fear of winter for her household because all of them have warm clothes. and kindness is the rule when she gives instructions. She goes out to inspect a ﬁeld and buys it. furthermore. Her hands are busy spinning thread. her lights burn late into the night. or a month.
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. She is like a merchant’s ship. for he sits in the council meeting with the other civic leaders. And so should we. minister. She ﬁnds wool and ﬂax and busily spins it. She watches for bargains. if you are dismayed instead of dazzled by this passage. Her children stand and bless her. The Ideal woman didn’t arrive at “Ideal-ness” in a day. She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants. and entrepreneur. She is clothed with strength and dignity. She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy. Her husband is well known. and she will greatly enrich his life. her words are wise. She quilts her own bedspreads. Wow! This woman’s got it all and. But let me tell you something totally liberating that I learned several years ago about Proverbs 31:10–31: this passage is not describing a day in the life of the Ideal Woman (thank you. or even a year. Instead. When she speaks. she’s got it all very together. She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
After reading such an extensive passage extolling the virtues of the Ideal Woman. She will not hinder him but help him all her life. mother. but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised. take heart. she brings her food from afar. But make no mistake. She is energetic and strong. So. a hard worker. and she laughs with no fear of the future. She carefully watches all that goes on in her household and does not have to bear the consequences of laziness. this passage paints a panoramic picture of her life and career as a wife. She dresses like royalty in gowns of ﬁnest cloth. Lord!).

How does Beauty #5 compare or contrast with: a. Beauty #2: The Indiscreet Woman (pages 6–8)
c. Beauty #3: The Irritating Woman (pages 9–10)
d. characteristics.Week One • Five Beauty Dos & Don’ts
3. Proverbs 31:10–31 details many of the qualities. which qualities. and accomplishments of the Ideal Woman. As you review the passage. Beauty #1: The Immoral Woman (pages 3–6)
b. Beauty #4: The Captivating Woman (pages 11–13)
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. characteristics and accomplishments do you most appreciate and desire for your own life?
4.

But before we conclude this ﬁrst week of study. these women will teach us the basics of biblical beauty. If you scorn wisdom. While each saying and proverb is generally true. As you conclude the ﬁrst week of your study. In the next ﬁve weeks. it’s an extremely practical book. pray and thank God for the wisdom you’ve already gleaned and for the beneﬁts you’ve already seen. there’s one very important thing we must do: we need to deﬁne biblical beauty. Still. the beneﬁts of wise living are obvious. service. If you become wise. We’ve all known wise people who died young).reflect
5. But a proverb is not a promise. and relationships? Record your answer by praising and thanking God for some of the speciﬁc ways you’ve most recently seen Him at work in your life. As you’ve already seen. As you take a panoramic look at your own life and Christian walk. godly lives (Proverbs 1:1–6).
•••••
day five
pray
1.
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. The Book of Proverbs is a collection of wise sayings written and edited by Solomon to teach us how to live wise. —Proverbs 9:11–12
This week. there are exceptions (one of which you’re about to see. Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. you will be the one to suffer. what spiritual growth have you seen in your character. you will be the one to benefit. you’ve brieﬂy met the ﬁve females from Proverbs.

He even provided us with information about Jesus’ physical appearance and beauty.Week One • Five Beauty Dos & Don’ts
2. 1 Peter 3:3–4
3. (NOTE: the “He” in this
verse refers to Christ. deﬁne biblical beauty in your own words by completing the following sentence: Biblical beauty is…
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. Using all of the scriptural information you acquired in Questions 2 and 3.
The prophet Isaiah foretold Christ’s coming in great detail. 1 Samuel 16:7
b. According to the following passages. what are the scriptural principles and qualities of biblical beauty? Record your answers in the space provided.)
4. a. and record what you learn about the beauty of Christ. Read Isaiah 53:2.

what primary principle has the Lord most impressed upon your heart and life?
reflect
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. You will make their day and bless them immeasurably. The Captivating Woman is a:
e. Trust me. The Immoral Woman is a: Biblical Beauty Do Biblical Beauty Don’t Biblical Beauty Do Biblical Beauty Don’t Biblical Beauty Do Biblical Beauty Don’t Biblical Beauty Do Biblical Beauty Don’t Biblical Beauty Do Biblical Beauty Don’t
b. Thank and aﬃrm them for the godly example they have been in your life. then take a minute right now to pick up the phone or drop them a note. The Ideal Woman is a:
6. The Irritating Woman is a:
d. The Indiscreet Woman is a:
c. Do you know someone who is a Biblical Beauty Do? Did any familiar faces come to mind as you reviewed the Biblical Beauty Dos in this week’s lesson? If so.5. 7. check the box that correctly describes each of our 5 Beauties from the Proverbs: a. Based upon everything you’ve studied this week about biblical beauty. As you reﬂect on what you’ve learned and studied this week.

the life and death of Ruth Bell Graham proves that biblical beauty is timeless and eternal. Billy Graham (impelled. by the Spirit) rose to his feet and spoke at Ruth’s service. Although he was not expected nor scheduled to speak. It has the awesome power to grow and intensify even as our bodies weaken and fade. It is beauty by The Book. After many years of declining health. “I wish you could look into the casket because she’s so beautiful. It is rare beauty. It is real beauty. 2007. and full of love for Jesus and His Word. no doubt. Ruth Bell Graham (wife of evangelist Billy Graham) went to be with the Lord at the age of 87. he recalled the previous evening when he’d visited the funeral home to see Ruth one last time.Week One • Five Beauty Dos & Don’ts
On June 14. It is the amazing promise to all who love the Lord and live His Word. her children remembered her as funny. At her funeral. feisty. a well-known biblical beauty died. Then he said. temporal beauty. In a world that worships physical.
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. In his brief address.” Ruth’s beauty transcended even death.